Muffle-furnace



(No Model.) 2 Sheet -Sheet 1. A. BEAM. MUFPLE FURNACE.

No. 582,843. Patented May18, 1897.

whim-wow d a we/wboz y l wm 755W (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. M. BEAM.

MUFPLB FURNACE. No. 582,843. Patented May 1 8 '189'7.

WA T

UNITED STATES PATENT EFICE.

ARON -M. BEAM, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

M U FFLE-FU RNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 582,843, dated May 18, 1897. Application filed July 6,1896. Sarial No. 598,218. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARON .MILLS BEAM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Muffle-Furnaces; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in muffie-furnaces; and the objects ofmy invention are to provide a new mufflefurnace adapted to unfold and control chemical changes in ores and other substances by the indirect application of heat of various degrees, whereby the operator may obtain at will and in a minimum space of time the desired chemical change and effect without the ores or substances being subject to the deleterious and injurious products of combustion of the fire-box. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated and described in the accompanying drawings and specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a. view of my improved muffle-furnace, showing one half of the View in elevation and the opposite half in longitudinal vertical section; Fig. 2, a general plan view of different parts and sections, one half of which is a plan view of the half shown in elevation in Fig. 1 and the other half shows two difierent sectional plan views of Fig. 3 on lines A and B; Fig. 3, a sectional end elevation at points 0 and D of Fig. 1,.0 designating the section through the chimney and D that through the ovens; and Fig. 4, a fragmentary perspective cross-section of one of the muflie-ovens.

Similar letters and figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the various views, it will be seen that my mufiie-furnace comprises several muftles or ovens arranged in duplex order in a line on either side of a central chimney E. In the base of the chimney two fire-boxes .is formed an ash-pit H.

or combustion-chambers F are made 011 each side, one for each line of ovens.

G designates the grate-bars, under which A door I of the usual furnace pattern opens into the fire-box, and a door J opens into the ash-pit. These doors are hung on a cast-iron frame K, which is built into the sides of the brickwork L of which the chimney and furnace are constructed.

M designates the bridge-wall of the firebox.

N designates a filling of ground.

0 is a passage extending under the muffles or ovens. This passage is divided lengthwise of thefurnace, commencing at the firebox, by two independent walls P, which are adapted to support the center of the muffles or floor P of the ovens. The muffles or ovens are separated from one another by a central dividing-wall Q, which extends from the,

chimney through the length of the furnace and supports one side of the floor of the muffles or ovens. (See part D of Fig. 3.)

S designates the muftles or ovens, and S the roof of the ovens. Several pairs of these ovens maybe arranged in a row on each side of the chimney, depending 011 the capacity of the furnace required; but two pairs are shown. These are arranged in a line on either side of the chimney, which is positioned centrally between them in order to more conveniently carry off the smoke and gases from all of them and from the fire-boxes. The floor and roof of the ovens are constructed of fire-clay slabs. The floors are constructed of slabs R of fixed predetermined sizes. The edges of these slabs are rabbeted to allow them to overlap one another. They are'made in sets, and each set comprises an oven-floor and is set in the furnace independent of the oven-walls in order that they may be removed and renewed at any time. The side walls are formed by the central division-wall Q between each opposite set and the outside walls T of the furnace. The roof of the ovens is arched, and at a space above the roof of the ovens a second floor is formed. The bottom of this second floor is arched concentric to the roof of the oven. The top of this second or main roof of the furnace is flat and is formed below the top of the side and central division-walls in order to form an inclosure on the furnace in which to mix ore with such material as it is desired to combine with it and to heat the mass, which enables the operator to recharge the muflies or ovens with hot ore instead of with cold ore.

V designates a platform; V, stairs leading thereto. The platform is used by the operator when manipulating the ovens. The space U between the roof of the ovens and the main roof forms a passage for the smoke and gases from the fire-box,which pass under the ovens and up around the end of the last oven and through this passage U into the chimney. The capacity of each oven is gaged to suit the ore under treatment, varying from four hundred to seven hundred pounds for each separate oven. The ovens are separated from one another by a partition-wall Q. A feedchute IV is arranged vertically in the brickwork into each chamber. They extend above the main roof of the furnace to about even with the top of the side walls and down through the roof of the m uffies into each chamber. The upper ends of these feed-chutes are provided with funnel-shaped inlets, and a plate X is fitted to set into each and close it against the escape of the gases from the ovens, and in order to make the joint tight a shovelful of ore is generally thrown on them.

Y designates a ring placed in the top of each plate, through which a rod or pair of tongs may be inserted to remove the cover from the chute. Transversely through these chutes, at that part of them which is exposed in the fine-space U, I make an aperture Z, which is adapted to permit the gases to flow from the mutlie into the lower end of the chute and from these apertures along the flue of the chimney. In order to strengthen the masonry, I bind it firmly together by tie-rods 1 and buckstays 2. The buckstays preferably consist of T-rails. These buckstays are placed vertically against the sides and end walls of the furnace, with their lower ends embedded in the ground in sets of two, spaced far enough apart to allow the rods to pass between them. A cross-strap 3 fits on the rods against the rails and the nuts are tightened against the crossstrap, thereby clamping the rails against the brickwork and holding the various parts of the furnace under compression. At a point approximately opposite the flue between the roof of the ovens and the main roof of the f u rnace I arrange in a recess at, which I form in the brickwork on both sides of the furnace and opposite one another, a number of T-rails ti, laying them lengthwise along the whole length of the furnace. These are also arranged to be clamped against the brickwork by the vertically-arrangcd T-rails and the tierods. Just below these longitudinal rails I build in and secure to the side walls in any convenient manner a row of door-frames 7, which I preferably make long enough to place end to end from oven to oven along the furnace. (SeeFigs.1and4.) Thesedoor-frames are provided along their top and bottom edges with laterally-extending ribs 8, which are adapted to strengthen them. The doors 9 and their fastenin gs 10 are similar in construction to doors in common use on furnaces of this character. Below the doors on both sides of the furnace I build into the brickwork a conveying-chute 11, which extends along the front of the ovens. In this chute I journal a screw conveyer 12. This conveyer is operated by a pulley 13, secured atits exterior end, from a suitable source of power. In the [1001' of each oven and just inside its door I build a chute 15, (see Figs. 3 and 1,) which leads to the conveyer-chute. A cover 16 rests normally on the floor over the entrance to the chute. This cover is hinged to a plate 17, which extends at a down ward incline from the sill of the door to the floor of the oven. The cover is provided with a ring 18, which enables the operator to swing it back on its hinge-pin 19 at will and open the chute to the spiral conveyer.

20 designates an air or steam supply pipe. This pipe enters one wall of the furnace from a T 21. Intermediate of this T and the wall I place a common form of gate-valve 22. The pipe which extends through the wall terminates in a T 23, and a pipe 24, which is embedded partially in the roof and extends along the roof parallel with the side wall and over each oven. A supply-pipe 25 for each oven is connected to it. These supply-pipes return through the wall, and to them is secured a short piece of hose 26. To the end of each hose a short piece of pipe is secured.

27 designates an aperture formed through each doorframe and brickwork into each ovens chamber. A cover 28 is pivoted to the door-frame and is adapted to be moved to close or open the aperture. lVhenever a supply of air or steam is required in any particular oven, it is introduced through its respective aperture by inserting the pipe at the end of the hose of that oven into it, as shown at 2!) and 30, Fig. 1, and in Figs. 3 and 4. To the T 21 an elbow 31 is secured, and adjacent to the elbow a valve 32, and from this valve a pipe 33 extends across the furnace to the opposite side, where a similar system and arrangement of pipe is made to provide either air or steam to the ovens on that side of the furnace.

The operation of the furnace is as follows: The ore to be treated is placed upon the main roof of the furnace, where it is mixed with such chemicals as will produce under sulficient and properly-regulated heat the desired chemical change. A sufiicient charge is then shoveled into each oven through its respective chute, spread out and manipulated through the doors of each oven. The heat from each fire-box or fire-boxes passes under and around the end and over its respective row of ovens and practically surrounds them. They are thus heated and kept intensely hot by the products of combustion, and being thus grouped together in sets retain the heat more evenly, cool slower during the recharging, and heat up quicker again after being recharged than if isolated from one another. After a charge is properly arranged in an oven it is manipulated by the operator by stirring and by the introduction from time to time of hot atmospheric air, or,when required, steam, which may be introduced through the same system of pipes by shutting off the supply of air at its source. Steam, however, is seldom used except with ores containing an excess of sulfur, as copperpyrites, or when coking coals or wood, where it cooperates with other chemicals to free the gold contained therein, or to make charcoal or coke. If an excess of gases accumulates in the ovens the air inlet is opened by pushing aside its cover, which creates a draft through the chute and the aperture Z into the fiue u that carries the gases into the chimney. Some ores do not require stirring while being treated, the action of the indirect heat upon the chemicals mixed with them being sufficient with admissions of air when required to etfect the chemical change desired, which is the complete separation of the gold from the ores, the ore being reduced to a powder and the gold freed from it and changed to a free and independent state. After a charge is treated the chute-cover is turned back, which opens the entrance to the discharge chute and the charge is drawn into the conveyer chute, when it is carried to the end of the furnace and discharged by the rotation of the screw conveyer. A new charge is then mixed with suitable chemicals and shoveled through its Vertical chute into the oven. The ore 011 the roof and the air in the pipes are thus heated by the radiation of the heat passing through the flue u. I am also able to make charcoal from wood and coke from coal. The construction of my improved Inuffie-furnace is such that I am able to treat ores and make charcoal and coke in much less time than is consumed at present in their respective treatment and production. I am also able to hold the -ore away from the oxygen until a chemical change is produced or until the sulfids pass over into sulfates before any air is admitted, which prevents a loss in a great many ores that would occur from volatilization. One of the advantages of my system or construction and arrangement of the ovens is the ability of the operator to repair or to replace the floors of the ovens, which is the only part that wears out and has to be replaced from time to time. This can be readily accomplished at any oven without suspending the treatment of ores in the others or in the least checking the fires. The fire-clay tile of which the floor is constructed being either rabbeted at their edges, as shown in Fig. 3, or ton gued and grooved, and the floors being all of the same size, a set of floor-tile of fixed size and number is all that is required for each floor, and a worn floor can be removed Q and a new one substituted for it in an hour or two at the most.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination in a muffle-furnace of one or more combustion-chambers, a chimney cooperating therewith, one or more muffleovens integral with said combustion-chambers and chimney, a flue extending from the combustion-chambers under, around the farthest end of and over the top of said oven or ovens, means for introducing, manipulating and discharging ores into and from said oven or ovens, and an air or steam supply pipe embedded in the masonry of the furnace in a position to heat the air passing therethrough by indirect heat radiating from said combustionchamber, a flexible or tubular feed-pipe connected with said air or steam supply pipe, an air or steam inlet aperture into said oven or ovens adapted to receive the free end of said flexible air-feed tube, means for closing and opening said air-inlet and a gas and vapor outlet from said oven or ovens into said fines or chimney, substantially as described.

feed-pipe extending through said floor into said ovens having a transverse aperture registering with and adapted to form a gas-escape passage from said ovens into said flue, a removable cover at the top of said feedchute, doors leading into said ovens and a chimney at the end of said flues, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the muffle-ovens, the flues, the combustion-chamber, the chimney, roof drying-floor and feed-chutes, with a main air-supply pipe embedded in the masonry of the roof-floor, a feed-pipe extending from the main supply-pipe to the front of each oven, a controlling-valve in each feed-pipe, a flexible pipe connected to the end of each feedpipe, a nipple secured to the end of said flexi-- ble feed-pipe, an aperture through the front wall of each oven adapted to receive said nipple and a cover, removably secured over the external end of said-aperture, substantially as described.

4. In a muffle-furnace, the combination of the combustion-chamber, the chimney, and the fiues, with a series of independent muffleovens arranged back to back, each having a removable floor and an arched roof, an archshaped' flue over said arched roof, a rooffloor over each oven, a feed-spout extending through said floor into each of said ovens having a removable cover, an aperture through said feed-spout registering with said flue and chimney, and a series of vertically-arranged buckstays at the sides and ends of said ovens and transverse and longitudinal tie-rods, substantially as described.

5. In a muilie-furnace the combination with the combustion-chamber, the independent, inuiiie-ovens and the flues, of a feed-trough constructed in the front wall of said ovens, a screw conveyer operatively secured therein, means for operating said conveyer, an orcchute connecting the floor of each oven with said conveyer and a pivoted door arranged to cover the entrance to said chute, substantially as described.

6. Inamuffle-furnace the combination with the combustion-chamber and the chimney, of one or more sets of muflie-ovens arranged back to back, each having an arched roof and a removable, renewable iioor, means for supporting said floor, with a cast door-frame secured to the front of said ovens, a projecting rib along the top and bottom edges of said frame, a cast-door-frame j amb,extending through the front wall of said ovens, a door pivoted thereto, a downward-inclined floor to said doorjamb, a cast discharge-chute at the edge of said door-jamb, projecting ears on the floor of said door-jamb and a swinging door pivoted to said ears and arranged to cover the entrance to said discharge-chute, substantially as described.

7 In a muffle-furnace the combination of the combustion-chainber, the chimney, the ovens and the fines, having an arched roof to each oven,an ore-drying roof above said ovens having side walls extending above its level, feed-chutes through said floor and into said ovens, a gas-escape passage from each of said ovens through said feed-chutes into one of said fiues and a cover at the mouth of each feedchute, with longitudinal buckstays arranged in a recess along the opposite fronts of said ovens, vertical buckst-ays arranged against the fronts and opposite ends of said ovens and against said longitudinal buckstays, and adjustable tie-rods connecting each opposing pair of vertical huckstays, and arranged to pass through the said roof-floor, substantially as described.

8. In a muflle-furnace,the combination with the combustion-chamber, the fines, the chimney, the ovens and the ore-drying roof, of an air-supply pipe extending transversely across said ore-drying roof, an air-supply pipe built into said ore-drying floor extending along the line of said ovens on each side of said oredrying roof, lateral feed-pipes from said airsupply pipes extending to the front of each oven, aflexible pipe at the end of each of said lateral air-feed pipes, having atube at their ends and air-regulating valves in said pipes, with a cast door-frame having an aperture leading into each oven adapted to receive said tube of the flexible pipe, a cover for said aperture, a door-jamb frame leading from said door-fra1ne into each of said ovens, a screw conveyor built in the front side of the line of ovens, means for operating the same, a discharge-chute from each oven to said con veyer and a door hinged to said doorjamb to cover the mouth of said dischargechute, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARON M. BEAM.

\Vitnesses:

J. N. BEAM, F. WALTER BEAM. 

